Community stalwarts who have dedicated their lives to helping others are receiving their British Empire Medals from the Lord Lieutenant of West Yorkshire, Dr Ingrid Roscoe, this month.

Sheila Bamford, left, from Keighley, was recognised in the Queen’s Birthday Honours for her services to social inclusion in West Yorkshire.

She is the executive director of Horton Housing Association, providing housing and other support services for vulnerable and deprived people.

And also picking up the medal is table tennis coach Hans Soova, right, who established the Oakbank Table Tennis Club at Oakbank School, where he still coaches twice a week. He dedicated his British Empire Medal to his late wife, Christine, who encouraged him to take up coaching.